N.J. Constitutional Convention: Vol. 4, Page 33

MISS SEUFERT: I presume that local ordinances would take care of that.

MR. McGRATH: Where would such courts be located?

MISS SEUFERT: In the municipalities.

MR. McGRATH: In each municipality of New Jersey?

MISS SEUFERT: In each municipality that was to have one - as it is today.

MR. SMITH: Would you make it a part of the state courts?

MISS SEUFERT: The municipal courts would be subject to, but they would not be within, the state system.

MR. McGRATH: Supposing it were a drunken driving charge, where would that go?

MISS SEUFERT: I presume that would be a violation of the statute, and it would go in one of the state courts.

MR. McGRATH: Where would they be located?

MISS SEUFERT: That we would leave to the Legislature of the State to set up as may be necessary. It would be in the general, statewide court system.

MR. McGRATH: Have you any idea of the cost of such a system?

MISS SEUFERT: No, sir, but I don't believe it would cost any more than the system we use today. This system of a statewide court would integrate many of the present courts that we have today.

MR. DIXON: Suppose it was a case of a minor infraction and there wasn't even a justice of the peace there. What happens then?

MISS SEUFERT: That would all, Mr. Dixon, be under the statewide court system. Now, just how many divisions of the statewide court we would have would depend on the Legislature - as many divisions of that statewide court as it would be necessary to set up in the particular sections.

MR. DIXON: At the present time most cases of this nature are taken over to the municipalities in question and taken before a justice of the peace.

MISS SEUFERT: There wouldn't be any more justices of the peace.

MR. DIXON: That is what I wanted to find out, how it would work under your proposal?

MISS SEUFERT: I presume the Legislature would set up a court which would include a certain area - a local area - of say, perhaps half a dozen towns, but that would all depend on the actual geography of the area, and instead of going to the justice of the peace, you would go to that division which would be within the general statewide court.